07.01.2026 21:41
A court in the Netherlands declared a marriage invalid due to the absence of legally required statements in a wedding speech prepared by a registrar using artificial intelligence.
A court in the Netherlands declared a marriage invalid due to the absence of legally required statements in the wedding speech prepared by the registrar using artificial intelligence.
The Zwolle Court's decision, published on January 6, stated that during the wedding ceremony held in Zwolle on April 19, 2025, the registrar, who was appointed for a one-day duty, prepared the wedding speech with the help of artificial intelligence.
MARRIAGE NOT CANCELED DUE TO ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
The decision noted that the registrar, who was a friend of the couple and was assigned to officiate the wedding, prepared the speech with artificial intelligence at the couple's request to make the ceremony "more intimate," and it was concluded that the statements made during the ceremony did not include the mandatory elements required by law.
The court's decision indicated that the official registrar of Zwolle, who was required to be present at the ceremony where the one-day appointed registrar served, was also present at the ceremony but did not intervene in the process.
THEY APPEALED TO THE COURT
The decision stated that in the petition submitted to the court on August 20, the couple argued that the error in question was not their responsibility and that they believed the marriage was conducted in accordance with the procedure, requesting the court to recognize their marriage as valid.
It was reported in the decision that the registrar of Zwolle, who participated in the case, also supported the prosecutor's request, and it included the statement, "The court acknowledges that it understands the importance of the marriage date in the marriage record for the couple, but it cannot deviate from the provisions set forth in the law."
According to the court's decision, individuals intending to marry are required, under Article 1/67 of the Dutch Civil Code, to declare in the presence of the registrar and witnesses that they accept each other as spouses and will faithfully fulfill all obligations tied to the status of marriage as stipulated by law.